The Commitments
Seen it?1991 | 118 min | Comedy, Drama, Music
Saturday SpecialWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), it drew serious awards attention and it's still drawing plenty of interest, despite a box office flop. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Elvis or Almost Famous, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: meant for adults.
Jimmy Rabbitte, just a thick-ya out of school, gets a brilliant idea: to put a soul band together in Barrytown, his slum home in north Dublin. First he needs musicians and singers: things slowly start to click when he finds three fine-voiced females virtually in his back yard, a lead singer (Deco) at a wedding, and, responding to his ad, an aging trumpet player, Joey "The Lips" Fagan.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 73 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.3 out of 10
- AwardsStrong
Won 4 BAFTAs: 45th British Academy Film Awards: Best Film, 45th British Academy Film Awards: Best Direction, 45th British Academy Film Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay, 45th British Academy Film Awards: Best Editing. Also nominated for 1 Golden Globe, 2 more BAFTAs and 1 WGA Award. Plus 4 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerWeak
$15 million worldwide on a $12 million budget
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 375K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Wild Rose
Sunday Safe BetAnother dramedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Elvis Saturday SpecialAnother music film, and a Saturday Special.
Almost Famous
Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed drama.
Teen Spirit
Weeknight WatchAnother music film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Back to Black Weeknight WatchAnother music film, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Alan Parker
- Robert ArkinsJimmy Rabbitte
- Michael AherneSteven Clifford
- Angeline BallImelda Quirke
- Maria Doyle KennedyNatalie Murphy
- Dave FinneganMickah Wallace
- Bronagh GallagherBernie McGloughlin
- Félim GormleyDean Fay
- Glen HansardOutspan Foster
- Dick MasseyBilly Mooney
- Johnny MurphyJoey 'The Lips' Fagan